As the political maneuver intensifies before the 2027 general elections of Nigeria, the former secretary of the Federation Government, Babachir Lawal, has shed light on the dynamics within the nascent opposition coalition.
In an exclusive interview with Nigerian Tribune, Lawal said that the coalition does not focus solely on the presidential ambition of Atiku Abubakar, but serves as a platform for several political figures, including Peter Obi and Rotimi Amachi, which house their own presidential aspirations.
Lawal dismissed the speculations that the coalition is forming to exclusively benefit Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.
“Why should it be about Atiku?
He specifically pointed to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labor Party in the last elections, saying: “Peter Obi is there as a presidential candidate, and I cannot see why he would join a coalition to build a system that will benefit only Atiku.”
Lawal also appointed the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amachi, who played and reached a “second distant place” in the primary of the Congress of all progressives (APC), as another possible presidential hope within the coalition for the general elections of 2027 of Nigeria. “I don't think Amachi wasting his time and attends meetings designed to make Atiku a presidential candidate,” Lawal added.
Lawal, who actively worked for Peter Obi's presidential offer in 2023, emphasized that his participation in current fusion conversations is not “scheme to give an leverage to Atiku.”
He clarified that the general objective of the coalition is to establish a solid political platform through a democratic process, where a presidential candidate based on consensus and internal electoral mechanisms will arise.
“All of them, apart from those of us who have no presidential ambition, all emphasize, every time, in the fact that we need to meet and obtain a solid platform and then allow the democratic process within that platform to press a presidential candidate, any candidate for that matter,” Lawal explained.
He also elaborated that the coalition attracts people with various political ambitions, ranging from those who seek to compete for the Assembly Chamber, the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Government positions, to those with presidential aspirations. All these individuals, according to Lawal, are united by the common goal of building a solid platform to dispute the elections.
Lawal highlighted the democratic processes planned within the coalition, including a national convention to choose a new leadership that then kills the primaries for Ward executives, local and state, and finally, congresses to select candidates.
“I don't see why people keep talking about Atiku. Probably, of course, because he is very active, because he believes that a strong opposition is necessary to confront a sitting government,” Lawal reflected, while reiterating that the final presidential candidate will emerge through a transparent process.
He also dismissed the notion of a pre -established “agreement” between Peter Obi and Atiku, stating: “We have heard speculations about the Peter Obi and Atiku agreement, it is not possible!” Lawal's comments underline the fluid and competitive nature of political alliances in Nigeria, where several interests and ambitions converge in the period prior to the main elections.